bevans



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

W. H. BEVANS. FIELD MOUNT FOR ARTILLERY.

No. 605,377. Patented June 7,1898.

wane/woo fl/MM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W H BEVANS FIELD MOUNT FOR ARTIL-LERY.

No. 605,377 Patented Julie 7,1898;

Mod l 3 Sheet 3 W. H BEV- F ANS. No. 605,377 IELD MOUNT FOR ARTILLERY.

Patented June 7 1898 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM H. BEYANS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FIE LD-PMOU NT FOR ARTILLERY.

SPECIFICATION forming par-tot Letters Patent NO. 60 5,377, dated June 7, 1898.

Application filed Apr-i119, 1898. Serial No. 678,144. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BEvANs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ield-M cunts for Artillery; and I-do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in vention, the wheels of the gun-carriage being removed. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view show ing in elevation the form of training mechanism applied to the lower end of the trail with the spade in section. Fig. 5 is a' top plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of the ratchet-and-pawl mechanism used in training the gun from side to side. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the same, partly in section. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the ratchet-andpawl mechanism,.and Fig. 9 isa fragmentary view showing the supporting-shaft and the ratchet mechanism connected therewith.

.A represents the wheels of an ordinary guncarriage mounted 'on the axle a. This axle has an enlarged portion immediately inside of the wheels, which enlarged portion extends from hub to hub and is provided with a groove or keyway a. in its upper surface. Mounted upon this enlarged portion of the axle is a plate a, the forward part of which is horizontal and the rear partof which slopes downward and backward to conform to the inclination of the trail. On each side, near-the wheels, are straps a, which pass over the axle and are bolted to the plate (1. one or both of which may have a downward projection fitting in the keyway a. Upon the plate a is mounted the flask a, which has a plate corthe gear-teeth a upon the flask.

the worm-gear is a strong spiral spring g to arc ofa circle, and on one side thereof it is provided with a curved rack a, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The trail is of peculiar construction, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The flask, as shown therein,is, when viewed from above, shaped approximately like a horseshoe. To the center of the curve of this horseshoe is attached the trail proper, J. This in cross-section is practically in the form of an I-beam, consisting of the central plate j and the side pieces j. This, as said before, is bolted to the central part of the curve of the flask, and the junction of the flask and trail is strengthened by triangular pieces 7' one above and one below, bolted to the flask and to the trail. This construction is of especial value, in that it greatly reduces the weight of the trail without to any appreciable degree impairing its strength. By this construction, too, a very narrow foot is provided, so that said foot, and'with it the trail, may be swung around the spade as a frame completely encircles the gun, but parts thereof are cut away on the top and sides for the purpose of reducing the weight, and pieces of sheet metal 15 are used to fill in the pertions cut away.

On one side of the frame B are extensions G. The outer part of these extensions is circular and perforated to form bearings for ashaft g,journaled therein. Splined on this shaft is a worm-gear g, which meshes with In front of relieve thestrain upon the teeth when the gun is discharged. By operating this wormgear it is obvious that the gun may be elevated or depressed. This worm-gear is operated by means of a ratchet mechanism I-I. (Shown in detail in Fig. 8.) This ratchet mechin Figs. 4 and 5.

anism consists of the ratchet h, fastened to the worm-gear or shaft g, with a casing 72. surrounding it. This casing is extended and forms a handle 72. Running from this handle, which is perforated, is a pin h the lower part or head of which, 72 ispointed and adapted to engage when pressed inwardly with the teeth of the ratchet. The spring 72. is inserted in an enlarged portion of the hollow handle and tends to keep the head 77. out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth. When it is desired to operate the ratchet, the handle 71. is pressed downwardly with the thumb, whereupon the head it engages with the ratchetteeth and the ratchet moved in either direction.

Another feature of my invention relates to the training of the gun in a'horizontal plane. One part of the main axle is provided with a screw-thread a (See Figs. 7 and 9.) Engaging with this screw-thread is a ratchetwheel 71. the inner part of which is provided with a screw-thread engaging the screwthreaded portion of the axle and the outer part of which is provided with ratchet-teeth. This ratchet and accompanying mechanism are shown in detail in Figs. 6 and? and are similar to the ratchet mechanism shown in Fig. 8, with the exception that instead of being operated by the thumb a lever h is pivoted in an extension on the hollow handle, which lever engages with the outer end of the shaft in the hollow handle. By working this ratchet the whole carriage is swung in a horizontal plane about the spade I as a center. It is obvious that by this mechanism the gun may be trained in a horizontal plane to a limited extent.

An additional training mechanism is shown In this case the ratchet mechanism is applied directly to the lower end of the trail, and it is obvious without any further description that by Working the ratchet the gun may be swung in a horizontal plane in either direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, isv 1. In a gun-carriage the combination with a casing mounted upon the axle of the earriage and carrying the gun, and a shaft provided with gearing mounted in the said casing, of a trail also mounted on the said axle, a flask on the said trail, teeth on the said flask meshing with the gearing on the casing, and ratchet mechanism for operating the said gearing, substantially as described.

2. In a gun-carriage the combination with a casing mounted upon the axle of the carriage and carrying the gun, bearings on the said casing, a shaft mounted in the said bearings, and a worm-gear on the said shaft; of a trail also mounted on the said axle, a flask on the said trail, teeth on the said flask to mesh with the gearing on the casing, and ratchet mechanism for operating the said gearing, substantially as described.

3. In a gun-carriage the combination with a casing mounted upon the axle of the carriage and carrying the gun, extensions on the said casing having bearings therein, a shaft mounted in the said bearings, a worm-gear on the said shaft, a spring located between one of the extensions and the worm-gear; of a trail also mounted on the said axle, a flask on the said trail, teeth on the said flask to mesh with the gearing on the casing, and ratchet mechanism for operating the said gearing, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the axle of a guncarriage having screw-threads thereon, of a ratchet-gear correspondingly screw-threaded engaging the said screw-threads, and provided with teeth, a casing surrounding the said gear and prolonged into a hollow handle, a rod in the said hollow handle, a pointed end on the said rod within the said handle to engage the said ratchet-teeth and means for normally keeping the end of said rod out of engagement with said ratchet-teeth, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the axle of a guncarriage having screw-threads thereon, of a ratchet-gear correspondingly screw-threaded engaging the said screw-threads, and provided with teeth, a casing surrounding the said gear and prolonged into a hollow handle, a rod in the said hollow handle, a pointed end on the said rod within the said handle to engage the said ratchet-teeth, a spring in the said handle to normally keep the end of said rod out of engagement with the said ratchetteeth, and a lever for operating the said rod to bring the pointed end thereof into engagement with the said ratchet-teeth, substantially as described.

6. Means for training a gun in a horizontal plane, consisting of screw-threads on the axle of the carriage, a wheel correspondingly threaded to engage the said. screw-threads, and means to operate the latter whereby by operating the gearing the carriage will be swung around the spade as a center, substantially as described;

7. Means for training a gun in a horizontal plane consisting of screw-threads on the axle thereof a ratchetrgear correspondingly threaded and meshing with the said threads on the axle, and a ratchet and pawl for operating said ratchet-gear, substantially as described.

8. Means for training a gun in a horizontal plane consisting of a relatively-fixed spade resting upon the ground, gearing upon the said spade, gearing upon the trail meshing with the said gearing on the spade, and means for operating the latter, whereby the trail will be moved along upon the spade, substantially as described.

9. Means for traininga gun in a horizontal plane consisting of a relatively-fixed spade resting upon the ground, worm-teeth upon the said spade, a worm-gear mounted in the trail and meshing with the teeth upon the spade and a ratchet and pawl for operating the said worm-gear, substantially as described.

10. Means for traininga gun in a horizontalplane consisting of screw-threads on the 'axle of the carriage, a wheel engaging the said screw-threads, andmeans for turning the said wheel to cause the carriage to slide-upon the axle, and a spade resting upon the ground,

elevated or depressed, and the lower part consisting of one member shaped like an I-beam and attached to the center of the upper part, triangular plates fastened above and below the junction of the two parts and a foot at-' described.

cached-to said lower part, substantially as 12. In a gun-carriage the combination with a trailand gearing upon the said trail, of a 25 relatively-fixed spade restingupon the ground,

gearing upon the said spade meshing with the gearing upon the trail to move the trail upon the spade, substantially asdescribed. I

13.v In a gun-carriage the combination with a trail and a worm-gear upon the said trail, of a relatively-fixed spade resting upon the ground, teeth on the said spade meshing with the said worm-gear to swing the trail around upon the spade, substantially as described. 35

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I WILLIAM H. BEVANSQ Witnesses:

' JOHN H. Hour, 0. A. BATEMAN. 

